Trump: "Kim Jong Un Responded"... Government: "North Korea-U.S. Talks Will Contribute to Peace on the Korean Peninsula"

As U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responded to his request for dialogue, the government has once again emphasized its role as a "pacemaker" in resuming North Korea-U.S. talks.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (right) and U.S. President Donald Trump at the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo by Yonhap News)

On August 18, an official from the Ministry of Unification stated at the Seoul Government Complex, "The Ministry of Unification has consistently maintained that if North Korea-U.S. talks take place, they could contribute to shifting the situation on the Korean Peninsula toward peace, stability, and inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation. We have repeatedly expressed our commitment to do our utmost as a pacemaker to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue." The official added regarding the pacemaker role, "There are various forms it can take—for instance, through diplomatic channels or by dispatching peace envoys."

The Ministry of Unification also explained that the "discussion among relevant parties" for converting the armistice regime into a peace regime, as proposed by President Lee Jaemyung in his Liberation Day speech on August 15, aligns with the pacemaker concept. Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung reported at the President’s policy briefing on August 5 that efforts to "lead a North Korea-U.S. summit" and act as a pacemaker at the summit diplomacy level should be followed by activating a government-wide "Pacemaker Plus(+)” initiative. The official said, "We will work to further develop these efforts in consultation with the relevant ministries."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also highlighted its pacemaker role in restarting North Korea-U.S. dialogue. A ministry official stated, "The government is paying close attention to President Trump's message on social media today and hopes that the friendly relationship between the North Korean and U.S. leaders will lead to meaningful discussions, thereby advancing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula." The official continued, "To this end, we will continue to make the necessary diplomatic efforts as a pacemaker, in close cooperation with the United States."

Previously, on August 17 (local time), President Trump responded "Yes" when asked by the press at the White House whether Kim Jong Un had responded to his request for dialogue. Regarding the stage of dialogue between the two countries, he said it was "very positive." The day before, he mentioned his relationship with Kim and added that he had ordered a sharp reduction in joint military exercises, noting that these could send an improper and hostile signal to North Korea. During his first term in office (2018-2019), President Trump met with Kim twice at summit meetings and held a meeting at Panmunjom. In his second term, he has continued to stress his personal ties with Kim and has signaled openness to dialogue.

However, it remains unclear what form Kim Jong Un’s "response"—as mentioned by President Trump—actually took. North Korean media and other sources have not issued any messages regarding President Trump’s remarks thus far. The Ministry of Unification stated that, since North Korea has not officially responded to President Lee's Liberation Day address, more time is needed to monitor the situation.

Some analysts predict that, if North Korea-U.S. talks resume, the negotiation framework could be different from the past. Hong Min, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, "There is a possibility that the dialogue framework will be constructed around an issue that North Korea might favor, without making denuclearization an absolute precondition. It is also possible that North Korea, to a certain extent, may accept this approach in order to enhance its strategic position."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.